Pidcock heads to Belgium with doubts: "I’m not sure If the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad course suits me"
Cycling
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad is fast approaching, and as tradition dictates, teams are announcing their lineups in the days leading up to the race. After EF Education-EasyPost was the first to confirm its squad, other teams such as Soudal Quick-Step, Movistar, UAE Team Emirates XRG, and Red Bull-BORA-Hansgrohe followed suit. With the WorldTour teams now set, it's time for the first Pro Team to reveal its selection. Q36.5 will bring seven different nationalities to the start, with Tom Pidcock as the standout name.
Alongside Pidcock, who will obviously be the Swiss team's leader for Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, the seven-man squad includes Rory Townsend, Jannik Steimle, Frederik Frison, Nick Zukowsky, Kamil Małecki, and Fabio Christen. While all eyes will be on the British rider, Christen could be a surprise contender. The young Swiss rider showcased his form just two weeks ago with an impressive victory.
Pidcock hopes for a podium finish in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
Still, all eyes will be on the man who claimed victory in last year’s Amstel Gold Race. Pidcock has already secured four wins this season. He dominated the AlUla Tour, winning both mountain stages and securing the overall classification. Last week in Spain, the Brit once again showed his sharpness, winning a stage in the Ruta del Sol. His confidence is certainly in a good place.
"Omloop Het Nieuwsblad is always an interesting race. It’s the first one-day classic where everyone can see how well they’ve come out of the winter. I’ve never been on the podium here, but I’d be very happy if I could make it this time, even though the course isn’t particularly suited to me. My form is good, and it’s important to build on that together with the team," Pidcock shared on the team’s website.
Read more below!
No designated leader for Q36.5 in Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne
Pidcock’s determination to perform in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad likely stems from the fact that it will be his only cobbled classic of the spring. After Saturday, the Brit heads to Italy for the Strade Bianche - Tirreno-Adriatico - Milan-San Remo block, before shifting his focus to the Ardennes classics. In Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne, the Swiss team won’t be backing a single leader.
As a result, the squad will see some changes, with Giacomo Nizzolo, Nicoló Parisini, and Matteo Moschetti joining the lineup. It’s likely that Nizzolo will be the team's main card on Sunday. The Italian has already shown strong form this year, finishing second in the fourth stage of the AlUla Tour, proving he can still compete with the fastest sprinters. Additionally, Moschetti and Frison may also get opportunities to make their mark.
Selection Q36.5 for Omloop Het Nieuwsblad & Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne 2025
Tom Pidcock (only Omloop Het Nieuwsblad)
Fabio Christen (only Omloop Het Nieuwsblad)
Nick Zukowsky (only Omloop Het Nieuwsblad)
Rory Townsend
Jannik Steimle
Frederik Frison
Kamil Małecki
Giacomo Nizzolo (only Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne)
Nicoló Parisini (Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne only)
Matteo Mochetti (Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne only)
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Latest Comments
- Remco is still very young. And injuries can absolutely keep you from overdoing it and getting worse. The recent Remco accident didn't keep him from being able to ride a recumbent inside. Wout's knee is a different story thoughVeganpotter23-01-2025
- Van der Poel style is winning by a half a lap and leading the race from the end of the second lap.
Barnes127420-01-2025 - If she thinks talent alone will put her there she will not see many podium finishes much less a GC finish.....work as a team utilizing tactics to consistently be at the top.Germanrazor10-01-2025
- This was very informative! Luiz Antonio Duarte Ferreiraluizantonioduarteferreira02-01-2025
- Well explained, thanks for the clarity! Daniel DantasDanieldantas20-12-2024
- This is the kind of 'news' that belongs in a cheap tabloid. No matter how boring the offseason gets, nobody wants to read this.
santiagobenites19-12-2024 - I wish we could have seen him try. He'd absolutely get dropped before Pogi overtakes his domestiquesVeganpotter10-12-2024
- Talk is cheap! Next year barring crashes with a healthy team... all well be on track! Some need to talk to make a headline!mootman27-11-2024
- I do not see this event listed on HBO Max Sports Online? Can anyone confirm? Thanks!
MrYuck23-11-2024 - It seemed that he was focusing forward at the time of the crash, after seeing a quick video snippet. But one thing I think he should focus on more intently is breaking a bad habit he has, right now. And that is his constant looking over his shoulders. He does that so much, that I am very sure it is not good for him. Simply watch videos of the greats of CX and you will see very little of that constant looking over their shoulders. That is a behavior that betrays a bit of insecurity on his part. He shouldn't be so concerned, incessantly, about what is over his shoulder. He needn't worry they didn't all disappear. He neds to keep his focus more ahead of himself, and he needs to pay a bit more attention to himself, in a confident manner. It is very frustrating to watch, because it is apparent that he has a lot of potential, and is in much better shape thwan many of his competitors, but the mental game needs to be sharpened more, because that part of strategy plays a huge part in the final results
reemmo022-11-2024